The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has been relatively quiet the past few months in terms of new regulatory initiatives. There are, however, a few recent noteworthy developments.

Although the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has been fairly quiet lately with regard to new regulatory initiatives, two recent issuances involving foodborne pathogens should be noteworthy to the meat and poultry industry.

Whether or not the August 2013 proposed rule to mandate prominent labeling of raw “mechanically tenderized” beef is implemented by USDA-FSIS, producers of non-intact raw beef products (including ground) need to consider the raw materials used when assessing their food-safety system.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that it is taking new steps to fight E. coli and protect the safety of the American food supply.